If you want to improve the look of your garden without spending a lot of money, you should consider creating a rock garden. Rock gardens usually don't have many plants, but the plants that do exist are very hardy. When the stones in your yard are arranged properly, they not only enhance the beauty of your home but also ensure that you mow less grass.

If you decide to create a stone garden, the first thing you need to do is check the area where your garden will be. Remove unwanted vegetation, such as diseased and dying trees and plants, or any type of spindle grass. Make sure you get the roots too, otherwise your rock garden will eventually become overgrown with unwanted ferns or perennials.

Assuming you are adding some plants to your garden, be sure to test the pH of your soil. After you've drawn the plant locations and laid your rock, you'll still need to wait for the full growing season before placing the plants in your rock garden. 

You should also try improving the soil by adding compost, mulch, and various other compounds. If the plant you want to add requires alkaline soil, take some crushed limestone or oyster shell and mix it into the soil.

If you use a lot of plants in your rock garden, be sure to leave more space between the rocks to make room for the plants. On the other hand, if you're only using a few plants, leave some space between the rocks, but leave room for the plants to grow. Your rock garden will be more attractive the more natural you can design the design.